BLANK SLATE BOOKS NEW BRITISH COMICS
2014 /15 BLANK SLATE BOOKS NEW BRITISH COMICS CATALOGUE 2014/15 A LONG DAY OF MR. JAMES-TEACHER HARVEYJAMES 68 ACCIDENTAL SALAD, THE JOE DECIE 66 ALBY FIGGS WARREN PLEECE 1212 BAND, THE MAWIL 78 BEETROOT BARNABY RICHARDS 08 BERLIN AND THAT OLIVER EAST 90 CONEY ISLAND BABY NINE ANTICO 1010 BLANK DEATH & THE GIRLS DONYA TODD 3434 DEPARTURES PIERREPIERRE MAURELMAUREL 22 DINOPOPOLOUS NICK EDWARDS 72 SLATE FELT MISTRESS: CREATURE COUTURE 40 GIRL AND THE GORILLA, THE MADÉLEINE FLORES 74 HECTOR UMBRA ULI OESTERLE 62 HOME & AWAY MAWIL BOOKS HOME & AWAY MAWIL 76 HUGO TATE NICK ABADZIS 56 KOCHI WANABA JAMIE SMART 1616 NEW JOE DECIE LISTENING AGENT, THE JOE DECIE 26 LOVE LOOKS AWAY LINE HOVEN 38 BRITISH LUCHADORAS PEGGY ADAM 86 MY SKATEBOARD LIFE ED SYDER 82 NELSON ROB DAVIS & WOODROW PHOENIX 60 COMICS NELSON SPECIAL EDITION DAVIS & PHOENIX 1414 ORSON WELLES: SPECIAL AGENT! GORDON RENNIE & WOODROW PHOENIX 24 CATALOGUE PEEPHOLES LAURIE J. PROUD 58 PIMO & REX THOMAS WELLMANN 20 PLAYING OUT JIM MEDWAY 30 2014/15 PROPER GO WELL HIGH OLIVER EAST 90 PSYCHIATRIC TALES EXPANDED DARRYL CUNNINGHAM 04 SILVER DARLINGS, THE WILL MORRIS 32 SLEEPYHEADS RANDALL C. 64 SPARKY O’HARE MAWIL 80 SPLEENAL NIGEL AUCHTERLOUNIE 84 SUITCASE, THE DAN BERRY 42 SURVIVALIST, THE BOXBOX BROWNBROWN 70 SWEAR DOWN OLIVER EAST 28 TAKE AWAY LIZZ LUNNEY 1818 TRAINS ARE ... MINT OLIVER EAST 88 UNCLE BOB ADVENTURES DARRYL CUNNINGHAM 06 WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS MAWIL 80 WEAK AS I AM NIGEL AUCHTERLOUNIE 36 OMEWHERE along the curve from the Hippy Underground comicsS of Crumb, Green and Bode to the new literary comics, marked by Eisner, Spiegelman, Clowes, Bechdel and Crumb (again) English language comics found their voice. They opened up a new world where autobiography, reportage and narrative fiction found comics form, and in doing so, generat- ed a whole new marketplace. Comics grew and stretched and found a new way to talk to readers who’d never read a comic before. It wasn’t just the US either. Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and more found new homegrown comics movements emerging, new publishers putting ink to paper. Yet people would ask “Where are the British comics?” The country which arguably invented the form was missing in action, its comics talent– barring odd flashes of brilliance:2000AD, Viz, Deadline, Slab-O-Concrete–called overseas to re-write the future of the US comics industry. Faced with nothing but kids’ comics, creators packed their virtual bags and turned their heads westward as so many had before them. Now, at long last, creators’ eyes are looking homewards again. | 03 THERE’S a clamour building, a new audience having their blue touchpaper lit, eyes and minds being opened up to just what words and pictures can do together. New publishers are springing up. Artists are challenging themselves to produce fun, inventive, meaningful comics, to break the mould and produce new British comics up there with the very best. I’m proud to have Blank Slate Books placed at the centre of that revolution, giving chances to more new UK comics artists than anyone else. There are amazing new comics here, as well as collections of some half-forgotten gems, and for just a touch of variety a few translated award-winners thrown in. We hope this catalogue makes you want to explore UK comics’ new dawn. Every book you buy moves another cartoonist nearer to the ‘roll presses’ order, and there are so many we want to print. In the three years that Blank Slate’s been around we’ve been thrilled by the support you’ve given, and hope that you agree this catalogue represents a return on your investment and the scaffolding for building great, new, UK comics. The next UK comics masterpiece is just around the corner. Listen, I hear it coming.
KENNY PENMAN PUBLISHER PSYCHIATRIC TALES EXTENDED EDITION DARRYL CUNNINGHAM Price: £10.99 / US $14.99 | 05 Size: 210 × 148mm Pages: 176 ISBN: 978-1-906653-54-9 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Out now
DARRYL CUNNINGHAM has Darryl Cunningham delves inside the been involved in the mysteries and misconceptions of mental British comic scene since illness in this acclaimed, bestselling exposé his days studying at the drawing on his experience as a psychiatric Leeds College of Art. After nurse. Frank, hard-hitting and moving, the breakout success of Cunningham recounts his experiences Psychiatric Tales in working on an accute psychiatric ward. A hardcover, Darryl now sufferer of depression himself, he presents regularly lectures at and matters in a forthright and instantly contributes to conferences accessible way from both sides of the on mental health and the picture. Topics covered include Bi-polar part comics can play in disorder, self harming, suicide, depression education. His book and how famous sufferers’ illnesses may Science Myths has recently been published by have been part of what made them great, Myriad Editions. He also before a final chapter detailing the author’s contributed a chapter to own struggle and recovery. Blank Slate’s award- Darryl Cunningham’s Psychiatric Tales is winning Nelson. He lives in a moving, engaging examination of what is, Yorkshire. at its root, the human condition. This expanded edition presents an updated OBSERVER GRAPHIC version of Psychiatric Tales, including two NOVEL OF THE MONTH, new chapters. APRIL 2010
“READING PSYCHIATRIC TALES CAN BE A VERY CATHARTIC PROCESS AND CERTAINLY ENRICHES YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.” —BART CROONENBERGHS, THE COMICS JOURNAL
“I LOVE THIS BOOK. IT IS MOVING AND BEAUTIFUL AND WRENCHED FROM THE HEART. IT TAKES OTHER AUTHORS WHOLE BOOKS TO SAY WHAT DARRYL CAN SAY IN A SINGLE ILLUSTRATION.” —JON RONSON, AUTHOR, THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS AND THE PSYCHOPATH TEST UNCLE BOB ADVENTURES DARRYL CUNNINGHAM Price: £15.99 / US $21.99 | 07 Size: 285 × 210mm Pages: 68 ISBN: Vol. 1: 978-1-906653-14-9 ISBN: Vol. 2: 978-1-906653-31-6 Format: Flexicover/Colour Released: Vol. 1 - Out now Vol.2 - Out now
DARRYL CUNNINGHAM has Prepare yourself for a roller-coaster been involved in the ride through strangely familiar territory British comic scene since as Darryl Cunningham brings us these his days studying at the curiously direct yet subtly dark stories, Leeds College of Art. After related by his hero, the unassuming in the breakout success of appearance yet dynamic and fearless man- Psychiatric Tales in of-action ‘Uncle Bob’. hardcover, Darryl now regularly lectures at and Soldier, adventurer, explorer and personal contributes to conferences envoy to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Bob on mental health and the is intrepid, quick-thinking and more than part comics can play in a match for any of the bizarre adversaries education. His book he encounters in his incredible adventures Science Myths has recently on land or at sea, in the air or deep at the been published by centre of the earth. Terrific fun for all ages, Myriad Editions. He also these deceptively simple tales will put a contributed a chapter to smile on everyone’s faces. Blank Slate’s award- Famous for his highly acclaimed books winning Nelson. He lives in Psychiatric Tales and Science Tales, this is Yorkshire. an altogether different side of Darryl, as he indulges in these stories for children of all ages which allow him to abandon fact and embrace wild fantasy. Volume One features meetings with Dr. Frankenstein’s monster, Martian Tripod invaders and a special apperance by Death himself. Volume Two includes Uncle Bob matching his wits against dinosaurs, jungle men and masked nogooders, and takes him deep underground where no human has ever gone before!
“IT’S BOTH WHIMSICAL AND SORTA HEARTBREAKING” —BRIGID ALVERSON, ROBOT 6 BEETROOT BARNABY RICHARDS Price: £15.99 / US $21.99 |09 Size: 270 × 210 mm Pages: 64 ISBN: 978-1-906653-60-6 Format: Hardcover/Colour Released: Winter 2014
BARNABY RICHARDS is a When Barnaby Richards was a London based illustrator. child, his parents announced to him one He contributed comics to day that the family were to be moving Sturgeon White Moss, and to Beirut, where his father had found a collaborated with Tanya new job. Young Barnaby did not know Meditzky on a publication what Beirut was and in his head he called Two Sentences. He substituted the word ‘beetroot’ instead. has illustrated for a range of Beetroot, a graphic memoir, is all about clients from The Guardian the distance between what is imagined G2, The Independent, and what is real, about the stories that and Walker Books, to a child tells himself when he doesn’t Paul Smith Jeans. quite understand the world around him, Beetroot is Barnaby’s first book. falling into the gap between imagination and reality. Colourful dreamily etched pictures take us inside young Barnaby’s mind as he dodges bullets and giant sentient snakes, and wanders across the city’s rooftops with his imaginary friends. Open this book and accompany him on his journeys, encountering the many un- knowable people and bizarre creatures with mysterious agendas who populate the strange world of Beetroot.
“I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOSH! ALUMNI BARNABY RICHARDS‘ GRAPHIC NOVEL BEETROOT ABOUT GROWING UP IN WAR-TORN BEIRUT, A PAGE OF WHICH TURNED UP IN THE COMIX READER #2. BARNEY IS HOLED UP WORKING ON THE BOOK RIGHT NOW AND OCCASIONALLY POPS UP ON THE INTERNET TO TELL US ABOUT IT.” —HAYLEY CAMPBELL, THE GOSH! AUTHORITY CONEY ISLAND BABY NINE ANTICO Price: £16.99 / US $24.99 |11 Size: 228 × 150 mm Pages: 216 ISBN: 978-1-906653-21-7 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W Released: Winter 2014/15
NINE ANTICO Described by Nine Antico as a is a French illustrator and ”part of my reflection on women and how cartoonist. She began her they deal with their powers of seduction. career with the fanzine, The choices they made that follow them Rock This Way, combining for a lifetime, and that they eventually her two passions: rock and illustration. Her first deny,” Coney Island Baby illustrates her book, Le goût du paradis, thoughts, through the persons of actresses was nominated for the Linda Lovelace and Bettie Page. First Album Prize at the The scene is Hollywood USA, the Playboy Angoulême Festival 2009. mansion, in 1968, where the smooth porn She currently writes for magnate Hugh Hefner meets two young several magazines women who want to be Playmates. But including Nova, Trax, and do they really understand what they are Muteen. Her newest book AUTEL CALIFORNIA, letting themselves in for? Hef gives them Face A, Treat me nice a tour of the mansion, introduces them to (L’Association), is inspired the staff, buys them ice cream and shows by a residency she did them the grim side of the glamorous in Los Angeles in 2011. Playboy lifestyle, as experienced by first She’s now working on the Bettie Page and then Linda Lovelace, two second volume, AUTEL famous women separated by many years CALIFORNIA, Face B, whose lives nonetheless followed very Blue Moon. similar bleak trajectories. Darkly funny, shocking, sexy and some- times scary, Coney Island Baby is a visual feast and a thought provoking time bomb. “NINE ANTICO IS LITTLE BY LITTLE BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND PROMISING OF THE NEW GENERATION OF FRENCH COMIC BOOKS AUTHORS. THE VERY DELICATE VINTAGE-STYLE DRAWINGS REFLECT THE AUTHOR’S LOVE OF 50s, 60s AND 70s POP IMAGING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE RECYCLED THAN NOWADAYS.” —GRACE LEO, GRACELEO.COM ALBY FIGGS WARREN PLEECE Price: £8.99 / US $13.99 |13 Size: 220 × 150 mm Pages: 80 ISBN: 978-1-906653-46-0 Format: Softcover/B&W Released: Out Now
WARREN PLEECE started Alby Figgs: Park bench drawing comics after sage or public enemy number 50,000? A studying illustration at man with an incredibly well-connected Brighton Poly in the late past or just a serial fabricator? 80s, going on to work Take a stroll through Alby’s ‘everyday’, with writers such as Garth around the streets, pubs, cafés, shops and Ennis, Neil Gaiman, Grant parks of London town as he extols some Morrison and Ed Brubak- elasticated truths, facts and theories to the er, producing work for uninterested, unsure and bemused with- publishers DC, Dark Horse out ever coming up for air. and 2000AD. He drew the This collection of Warren Pleece’s first acclaimed graphic novels, Life Sucks (First Second) year of weekly visits with his talkative written by Jessica Abel and Londoner features 53 strips, revised and Gabe Soria, and Incognegro remixed for this edition, plus a few other (DC Vertigo) written by Mat special features. Johnson. For over twenty-five years, Warren has Warren and Gary Pleece’s written, drawn and collaborated with his most recent work includes brother Gary on the legendary Velocity, the books The Great a randomly published comic magazine Unwashed (Escape Books), drenched in dark sarcastic humour and which features stories from heavy-ladened ink, inspired by black and Velocity and other publica- white films, quirky 70s TV scheduling, tions, and Montague hard-boiled storytelling, alternative music Terrace (Jonathan Cape). and unpopular pop culture. You can read more at Warrenpleece.com. “THE PLEECE BROTHERS Warren lives in Brighton WERE ONE OF THE BEST THINGS with his family by the sea. ABOUT BRITISH COMICS BACK IN THE 1980S AND THIS NEW WORK “COMPLETELY IS FULL OF THE QUALITIES THAT DEMENTED. BUT MADE THEIR CULT COMIC I LIKE IT ALL THE VELOCITY SO READABLE... SAME.” HALF SCARY, HALF SILLY.” —RACHEL COOKE, —TEDDY JAMIESON, THE OBSERVER SUNDAY HERALD NELSON SPECIAL EDITION EDITED BY ROB DAVIS AND WOODROW PHOENIX
OBSERVER GRAPHIC NOVEL OF THE TIMES: BEST GRAPHIC THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2011 NOVELS OF 2011 Price: £78.99 / US $128.99 | 15 Size: 236 × 178mm BOOK OF THE Pages: 252 YEAR ISBN: 978-1-906653-23-1 2012 Format: Hardcover, Slipcased Buy from the BSB webstore
Award-winning and much celebrated as a remarkable achievement by a united contingent of British comics creators, Nelson is a very special book (see page 60 for the regular edition). Based on an idea by Rob Davis and co-edited by Davis and Woodrow Phoenix, Nelson showcases the incredible diversity of narrative talent in Britain today in one unforgettable story. To celebrate this milestone in UK comics, Blank Slate is proud to present the original book in a very special hardback edition, each copy containing a four-page insert that has been individually hand-signed by 52 of the 54 creators. These autographed hard- backs are housed in a beautiful custom slipcase with a debossed logo and ribbon, featuring a new drawing by Rob Davis on the spine and a cover illustration by the remarkable Frank Quitely. The Nelson Special Edition is limited to 70 copies, and is available to buy exclusively from the Blank Slate webstore.
“I AM FASCINATED BY THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF EACH PARTICIPATING ARTIST IN THIS COLLABORATION, AND BY THE WAY THE CENTRAL CHARACTER DEVELOPS UNDER ONE’S EYES AS EACH YEAR IN HER LIFE UNFOLDS.” THE TIMES: BEST GRAPHIC —BARONESS MARY WARNOCK, PHILOSOPHER NOVELS OF 2011 KOCHI WANABA JAMIE SMART Price: £16.99 / US $22.99 | 17 Size: 285 × 210 mm KOCHI WANABA Pages: 128 ISBN: 978-1-906653-25-5 Format: Hardcover/Colour JAMIE SMART Released: Out now
JAMIE SMART is a Kochi Wanaba is a quiet kid who comic creator best loves nothing more than to draw secrets known for his work in his sketchbook. When the day of the with Slave Labour annual Bee Festival falls upon his town, Graphics and The Kochi’s loud, hyperactive girlfriend Lhys Dandy. With a long can barely contain herself. Unfortunately and diverse list of for Kochi, tolerating Lhys’ excitement be- works to his name, he’s comes the least of his problems as super- produced work for The natural chaos breaks out all around them, Sunday Times, threatening to change their lives forever. Scholastic, The DFC, Featuring a foul-mouthed cast of misfit Toxic, Cartoon school kids discovering how badly wrong Network, the BBC and friendship can go, events spin horrifically Disney, to name just a out of control as reality as they know it is few. He currently lives turned upside down. just outside London Rendered in Jamie Smart’s characteristic with his girlfriend and illustration style that straddles the cute their pet hamster and the grotesque, Kochi Wanaba is a Ichigo. He is one of the many artists pencil-drawn graphic novel that combines contributing to Blank all-out comedy with genuine, captivating Slate’s award-winning emotional range. Nelson. His official Kochi Wanaba is filledwith mysteries website can be found that must be read to be decoded. What at www.fumboo.com lies behind this madness? What is the hidden significance of the festival? Why does Kochi attract so many bugs?
“MADE ME FEEL LIKE I’D BEEN LED SKIPPING AND SINGING BY THE HAND THROUGH FIELDS OF LOVELINESS AND THEN SENT, WILE E COYOTE -LIKE, OFF THE EDGE OF A DEEP CREVASSE” —SMALL PRESS, BIG MOUTH TAKE AWAY LIZZ LUNNEY Price: £9.99 / US $13.99 | 19 Size: 210 × 150 mm Pages: 128 ISBN: 978-1-906653-42-2 Format: Softcover/4 Spot Colours Released: Out Now
LIZZ LUNNEY is an Lizz Lunney mainly draws surrealist illustrator and comic artist animals, household objects and items of who has created legions of zines, badges, stickers food, all endowed with the sometimes and comics, featuring her questionable gift of consciousness, explor- vast array of food and ing various concepts of life and death in a animal characters such as humorous setting. Sometimes she draws Romantic Bison and Keith humans. the Wizard. Her character Take Away is a specially comissioned book Depressed Cat has his for Blank Slate that collects all of Lizz’s own Twitter account and a favourite work from the last eight years, larger following than Lizz herself! Lizz has a degree presented alongside lots and lots of brand in animation and does new content. It’s designed with four sections storyboarding for film and in four different spot colours for extra tasty animation. She lives and dazzle, to give you the best possible experi- works in Birmingham. ence of Lizz Lunney’s world of existentially silly and serious situations! Featuring two of her longest stories yet, “LIZZ LUNNEY’S starring Romantic Bison in an epic tale of A MEANIUS: A love and misunderstandings, and Depressed Cat in a globe-trotting adventure into ennui. MEAN GENIUS.” Plus lots of short strips, interludes and —CHRISTOPHER strange moments with other recurring TAUBER, characters. As if that isn’t enough, unfold ZWERCHFELL the cover and peek under the flaps and you’ll find even more pert and punchy comic strip goodness. Take Away is absolutely packed with comics! “THE QUINTESSENTIAL LOVE LETTER TO THE MINI-COMICS FORM. CUTE, FUN, ROMANTIC, AND UNPREDICTABLE, LIZZ LUNNEY’S COMICS ALWAYS LEAVE YOU WANTING MORE.” —CHRIS STAROS, TOP SHELF PRODUCTIONS PIMO & REX THOMAS WELLMANN Price: £11.99 / US $13.99 |21 Size: 275 × 225 mm Pages:44 ISBN: 978-3-940304-88-9 Format: Softcover/Colour Released: Out now
THOMAS WELLMANN Pimo & Rex is the first title to be is a freelancing co-published by the UK’s Blank Slate cartoonist. He Books and Rotopol Press, Germany’s fore- works in illustration, most alternative comics and illustration comics, 2D animation publisher. The English-language version of and storyboards. the new book by German cartoon genius, He also lectures in Thomas Wellmann, released on the same drawing and comics day as the German edition, takes place in at the University Of a fully developed fantasy world. Applied Sciences in Featuring two stories told with Thomas Düsseldorf. He lives Wellmann’s astonishing full-colour art and works in Münster, Germany. and energetic humour, readers are in- vited to meet Pimo Huerte, a struggling “AN ABSOLUTE novelist and dashing swordsman, and his JOY TO READ. best friend, the potion-making chef Rex THE DIALOGUE Iman. Our heroes’ adventures see them at IS FANTASTIC, odds with weird and wonderful foes such as an evil necromancer who will stop at THE DRAWING nothing to become a master painter, and IS EXCELLENT an unstoppable archlibrarian, determined TOO, COMBINING to take back Pimo’s overdue books by any SMOOTHLY means necessary. EXECUTED LINE Adventure Time aficionados will know WORK WITH Wellmann as the co-writer and storyboard RICH COLOUR artist on two of the show’s episodes and PALETTES. THIS are sure to love seeing him work his magic SHOWS OFF AN in his English language debut.. INCREDIBLE “CAPTIVATING, ENDEARING ARRAY OF SKILLS AND BRILLIANTLY ABSURD, I FROM ITS YOUNG SINCERELY HOPE ANOTHER CREATOR; IT’S VOLUME OF THE EXPLOITS OF EPIC!” THIS UNPREDICTABLE PAIR OF —JAMES PALS IS NOT LONG IN COMING.” CARTWRIGHT, —ANDY OLIVER, ITSNICETHAT.COM BROKEN FRONTIER DEPARTURES PIERRE MAUREL Price: £9.99 / US $14.99 | 23 Size: 228 × 150 mm Pages: 80 ISBN: 978-1-906653-27-9 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W Released: Winter 2014
PIERRE MAUREL In his English-language debut, Pierre was born in 1977. He Maurel explores the effects of the lives and works in global recession through three tales of Carcassonne, France. twenty and thirty-somethings strug- Receiving praise for gling at the bottom of the social ladder. politicised work that Taking place in an unspecified city, explores the social mal- aise of the 2000s, he is these stories overlay to create a narra- known for his expres- tive of low-income, low-expectation Mc- sive black and white art Jobs; unemployment; benefit meetings; and realistic dialogue. homelessness; isolation; violent riots Departures is his first and urban decay. In the first story, an work to be translated unemployed man begins to suspect he into English, and was is going insane as his everyday life is part of the official invaded by visions of sprawling vege- selection for the prestigious Angouléme tation. Elsewhere, a bookseller being International Comic exploited by her unscrupulous manager Festival in 2009. is debating joining a union the media describes as “local terrorists”. Later, in the same bookstore, a couple find them- selves pushed to their limit. But what happens when they try to push back? Praised for the realism of his charac- ters, Maurel’s cast perfectly exemplify the feelings of betrayal and alienation many feel over the broken promises of the new millennium. All faced with the opportunity to make a difference in their lives, will they accept their situation or attempt to find a new way of living?
“A TESTIMONY OF OUR TIMES” —BENZINE ORSON WELLES: SPECIAL AGENT! GORDON RENNIE AND WOODROW PHOENIX Price: £9.99 / US $12.99 | 25 Size: 285 × 195 mm Pages: 64 ISBN: 978-1-906653-44-6 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Winter 2014/15
GORDON RENNIE Actor, writer, raconteur, impresario lives in Edinburgh. Since and director, Orson Welles was legendary entering the comics field for his larger-than-life roles in radio, the- with a bang with the series atre and film, but perhaps even more White Trash, he has created celebrated for his off-screen exploits. and written many fan- Performing magic tricks, preparing favourite series for 2000AD and The Megazine. He now speeches for President Roosevelt, penning divides his time between a regular op-ed column for the New York work for games companies Journal American newspaper, travelling as and writing novels for an envoy to foreign countries, staging Warhammer Fantasy. controversial plays and supporting ‘radicals’, he was often AWOL from his day WOODROW PHOENIX jobs for weeks at a time. One particular is constantly experiment- week has Welles scholars stymied. In June ing with comics forms and narrative styles. He is the 1944 the USA was at war. Where was Orson author of the critically Welles during the battle of Cherbourg? acclaimed book Rumble Gordon Rennie cleverly answers the Strip, published by mystery of that missing week of Welles’ Myriad Editions, and life. What was he up to? How about: saving co-editor of Blank Slate’s Hollywood from a Nazi takeover? award-winning Nelson. Drawn in a crisp film noir style by Woodrow He lives in London and Phoenix, “Orson Welles: Special Agent” is an Cambridge. atmospheric black and white romp through 1940s Hollywood, evoking a lost era with wit, brio and machine-guns! Formerly a lost project itself, the original version of this book was begun in 1995 and then lay unfinished in a drawer, seemingly never to see the light of day until exhumed and completed this year for Blank Slate.
“THE BEST SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY I’VE EVER READ IS BY RENNIE AND PHOENIX” —JOHN TRUMBULL, COMIC BOOK RESOURCES THE LISTENING AGENT JOE DECIE
NOMINEE BEST COMIC 2013 Price: £8.99 / US $11.99 | 27 Size: 285 × 210 mm Pages: 56 ISBN: 978-1-906653-59-0 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Out now
JOE DECIE is a great Joe Decie’s excellent new collection of fan of root beer, old almost autobiographical comics is drawn school hip hop and as always with the most beautiful Japa- some other kinds of nese nibs that he can find, and beautifully beer too. If you ever painted in watercolour inkwashes. Since meet him, you should the publication of his first collectionThe pronounce his last Accidental Salad, Joe’s reputation has name “dee-see”. Not grown worldwide, with that first volume too difficult! Whether being selected as one of the best 15 com- you will recognise him, ics of 2011 by Rob Clough at The Comics as this photo reveals Journal. Joe has also gained a following him to be a master of amongst other cartoonists with Jeffrey disguise, is another Brown, Brandon Graham and Shaun the matter. By the time you read this Joe will have Sheep writer Ian Carney amongst his fans. settled into married life This second helping of Joe’s hilarious in the seaside city of stories and observations, shares secrets Brighton where he lives and lies, casual musings and tall tales of and works, and - we life in the Decie household. You may wish hope - thrown away the to learn from his parenting tips, or take box of disguises... comfort from the hard-earned advice of one who has plumbed the depths of life’s mysteries. Or perhaps make careful notes on what to do if you are ever up for an award at a comics festival. Just good comics.
“... ALWAYS LOVE THE WAY JOE BLENDS THE SUBURBAN WITH THE SURREAL. EVEN WITH THE WILDER STRIPS THERE IS A STRONG FOUNDATION OF TRUTH AND HONESTY – SOMETHING EVERY WRITER SHOULD STRIVE FOR” —IAN CARNEY, WRITER, SHAUN THE SHEEP SWEAR DOWN OLIVER EAST Price: £14.99 / US $19.99 | 29 Size: 236 × 178 mm Pages: 130 ISBN: 978-1-906653-29-3 Format: Hardcover/Colour Released: Out now
OLIVER EAST is an BY far the most personal of Ollie East’s Ignatz award-nominated works, this book covers the changes in his comic creator with an life brought about by the birth of his first unique style helping child, and the impact of the difficult birth redefine UK comics. on both himself and his wife Claire. Familiar to music lovers The line of longitude outside his front door as the cover artist on the Mercury award-winning in Old Trafford, Manchester, cuts through Elbow album The England, then Brittany, Spain, Algeria, Seldom Seen Kid Mali, Burkina Faso and then Ghana. In (as well as providing art Swear Down, East follows this line as far for the promo video for as Congleton, a walk of about 23 miles. the track Open Arms His wife and son accompany him part of from the Elbow album the way. He has “joked that it’s my first Build A Rocket Boys!), romantic comedy, but I really believe it is. Oliver divides his time between professional My wife’s well funny and I adore her.” illustration and his There are new visual motifs: lots of mark- comics work. He er bleed, more spreads and more collages. lives in Manchester with At times painfully honest, always deeply his wife and son. felt and human, Swear Down is another step along the path to becoming one of comics’ true originals.
“HE HAS A DISARMING, ENGAGING STYLE: TO READ ONE OF HIS BOOKS IS TO FEEL AS IF YOU ARE IN THE DELIGHTFUL COMPANY OF A LIKEABLE, ROGUISH, RACONTEUR.” —MARK KARDWELL, ROBOT 6 PLAYING OUT JIM MEDWAY
NOMINEE CHILDREN’S AWARD 2013 Price: £8.99 / US $11.99 | 31 Size: 285 × 210 mm Pages: 48 ISBN: 978-1-906653-57-6 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Out now
JIM MEDWAY is a It’s the Summer holidays in Manchester writer and artist who and Kieran (12), Jamal (11) and Connor lives in High Peak, (Kieran’s little brother, 8) are doing what Derbyshire. He was a any self-respecting kids would do on a regular contributor Saturday: killing time by walking around to children’s comics the city centre. Aimlessly exploring the magazine The DFC, shops, the trio find themselves window where he drew weekly shopping for trainers, hunting for money strips New at The Zoo in pay-phones, drooling over the older and Crab Lane Crew. girls from their school and traveling to the He has been top of the multi-story car park just to see running ‘Create the view. Comics’ workshops for all ages across the As the boys wander around, the real story country since 2006. is told not by what they are doing, but through the conversations and the interactions they have along the way. “JIM MEDWAY Disgruntled shopkeepers distrust them IS SOMETHING on principle, off-duty teachers blow their minds by—shock horror—having a life OF A SOCIAL outside of school too and local goths ANTHROPOLOGIST; become the subject of both their ridicule AN OBSERVER OF and secret awe. URBAN TEEN CULTURE A kid’s-eye perspective of life, Playing Out AND THE RITES & is for all of us who fondly remember CUSTOMS OF weekends spent marauding with no money MANCHESTER YOUTH...” and precious few responsibilities. Be sure —SUE HUBBARD, THE to spend the summer holidays with INDEPENDENT Kieran, Jamal and Connor in 2014.
“MEDWAY BELONGS TO A GREAT TRADITION OF ROMANTIC NORTHERN SATIRISTS; HE HAS A BEAUTIFULLY NUANCED COMMAND OF HIS MATERIALS AND SUBJECT MATTER, AND A WARMTH THAT’S OFTEN ABSENT IN CONTEMPORARY CULTURE.” —NEIL MULHOLLAND, THE SCOTSMAN THE SILVER DARLINGS WILL MORRIS
WINNER EMERGING TALENT 2013 Price: £9.99 / US $14.99 | 33 Size: 270 × 216 mm Pages: 60 ISBN: 978-1-906653-51-4 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Out now
WILL MORRIS recently Ayrshire, 1967. It’s photographer graduated from Danny’s last summer in his home town Camberwell College of before he heads off to Glasgow and to his Arts with a Master’s in new college. But before he leaves the ailing Illustration. During his fishing community he has a long week in studies he began work on prospect, onboard his dad’s fishing boat, his first graphic novel, The Silver Darlings for Blank The Silver Darling. Slate Books. Prior to this, Uninspired by the family business and Will self-published several with a head full of modern ideas, Danny short comics and his decides to challenge the crew’s superstitions work has featured in a and bring ‘a spirit of enlightenment’ to his number of anthologies. week at sea. But by taking aboard a strictly Will has produced forbidden cargo, Danny gets more than he comics and illustrations bargained for and learns a few lessons of for 2000AD, Art Review and for the Royal his own. Conservertoire Scotland Writer and artist Will Morris revisits an amongst others. He also industry in decline to create a story that’s appears in Blank Slate’s as much a coming-of-age tale as it is a award-winning Nelson. tribute to Ayrshire’s historic fishing com- You can keep up to date munity. Packed with humour, pathos and with Will’s work online at rendered in Morris’ beautifully atmospheric whmorris.blogspot.com ink-washed art, The Silver Darlings is an and on twitter: @wh_morris. unmissable debut graphic novel from one of UK comics’ fastest-rising stars. “WILL MORRIS SCULPTS A WORLD OF WILD, GLITTERING SEAS AND INNER TURMOIL FROM DELICATE WATERCOLOUR, EXPRESSIVE LINES AND SPARSE, POTENT WORDS. YOU CAN PRACTICALLY SMELL THE SEA SALT ON HIS DRAWINGS. SUPERSTITION, LUCK – IT’S ALL IN THE MIND, ISN’T IT? THE SILVER DARLINGS MAKES IRRATIONAL BELIEFS AS TANGIBLE AS WAVES, AS BITING AS STORM SPRAY IN YOUR FACE. A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.” —NICK ABADZIS, AUTHOR OF LAIKA AND HUGO TATE DEATH & THE GIRLS DONYA TODD Price: £8.99 / US $11.99 |35 Size: 285 × 210 mm Pages: 52 ISBN: 978-1-906653-56-9 Format: Hardcover/B&W Released: Out now
DONYA TODD is an Meet the Nubian Sisters: Betsy, illustrator, painter Bunny and Batstone. A hangover is the and writer who least of their problems after a tequi- lives on a remote la-fuelled night in the Mexican desert farm in Cornwall, leads to Betsy having a threesome with England. She takes an anthropomorphic washing machine her inspiration from the magical, and Death himself. Love-struck, the marvellous and grim reaper decides that he wants macabre. Death & Betsy’s fleshy pink hand in marriage, the Girls is her first and is willing to chase her to the ends published comics of the Earth for it. As if that wasn’t bad work. BUT, not her enough, Betsy’s woes are magnified last... when she finds out that she’s pregnant “...IT IS with Ol’ Washy’s child! QUESTIONABLE Riding ponies, hotwired donkeys and WHETHER IT’S DONYA magic bikes across an hallucinogenic TODD WHO HAS SUCH landscape, the girls find themselves A WILD IMAGINATION face-to-face with a cast of freaky friends OR WHETHER IT IS and foes that include naked cowboys, HER CHARACTERS. Polynesian princesses and omnipotent SIMPLY BECAUSE deities with venereal problems. Join HER WORLD SEEMS the Nubian Sisters as they leave a trail of destruction and exhausted lovers in SO THOROUGH, their wake. HER CHARACTER Donya Todd bursts onto the UK comics DESIGN SO scene with this tale of debauchery, in- IMPRESSIVELY sanity and girls looking for a good time. CONSISTENT, THAT Already recognised for her illustration THIS COULD WELL BE work that draws upon macabre influ- ANOTHER WORLD!” ences, she brings all of that to this, her —THE FREAK SHOW first long form comics work. WEAK AS I AM NIGEL AUCHTERLOUNIE Price: £10.99 / US $15.99 |37 Size: 210 × 150 mm Pages: 124 ISBN: 978-1-906653-19-4 Format: Softcover/Colour Released: Out now
NIGEL N igel Auchterlounie’s protagonist AUCHTERLOUNIE is a Spleenal, last seen in his own book of the cartoonist, model maker, same name (see page 70) returns in Weak toymaker and writer – so as I Am. An off-kilter exploration of a how come he ain’t famous world just like this one except for an extra yet? Despite a passing class of people for whom the usual rules physical resemblance to his don’t apply; those with powers. Powers Spleenal character he’d like which make them more than human and to point out that in real remove them from the grey everyday life he’s nothing like him world, into a vividly technicolour wonder- (right, we believe you). land of limitless possibilities. They live Nigel’s ideas and inspiration how they please, taking whatever they come from the best British cartoon traditions – in a want, they don’t age, they don’t get up at world parallel to Spleenal’s, six and spend three hours a day commut- Nigel also does regular ing to and from work, and nobody tells work for The Dandy, where them what to do. he has taken the glorious Spleenal, frustrated with his routine traditions of the likes of existence, longs to be one of them, and Baxendale and Reid and when he accidentally gains superpowers moved them to a more it’s the best day of his life… until he finds unrestrained level. that his new upgraded existence might end violently at any moment. Suddenly it’s not such a great deal. How long is Spleenal going to survive when all the heroes are suddenly turning into villains?
“RICH, CLEVER, AFFECTING, THOUGHTFUL AND FUNNY, WEAK AS I AM IS A GREAT READ, AND A WONDERFUL EXPLORATION OF HUMANITY IN A SUPERHUMAN WORLD. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOOKS YOU JUST HAVE TO READ.” —KURT BUSIEK, AUTHOR, ASTRO CITY, KIRBY:GENESIS, MARVELS LOVE LOOKS AWAY LINE HOVEN Price: £13.99 / US $18.99 | 39 Size: 240 × 210 mm Pages: 96 ISBN: 978-1-906653-18-7 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W Released: Out now
LINE HOVEN is an Line Hoven’s first graphic novel tells illustrator and comic a tale of three generations of her family, artist who studied under German comics greats with stories from the past interwoven deftly Anke Feuchtenberger with those of the present to show how with and ATAK at HAW Ham- time and willingness, cultural barriers and burg. She uses a highly prejudice can be overcome, because Love meticulous scraperboard Looks Away. method, using black The story begins with her grandfather card and scratching out Erich - a boy obsessed with his radio and contrasting white lines, the music of Jewish composer Mendelssohn, surface areas and filigree textures. This yet also a loyal member of the Hitler Youth. is her first full length How can he reconcile these conflicts? Later, graphic novel and, as his own son Reinhardt finds himself equal- well as English, it has ly out of place as he falls in love with an been translated into American woman and has to choose. Where Italian and French. will they live? What language will they Line lives and works speak? How do they deal with the differenc- in Hamburg. es in their cultures? “LOVE LOOKS AWAY, Incised into scraperboard, the daughter of LINE HOVEN’S FIRST an American mother and a German father tells the story of how two families across FULL LENGTH COMIC, two continents became one. Love Looks IS A DELIGHT. THE SIDE Away is a quiet and touching family chroni- STEPPING STORY cle that ties snapshots of private and public OF HER OWN historic events into a contemporary memoir. AMERICAN/GERMAN Awarded the ICOM prize for Best Inde- FAMILY PROVES THE pendent German Comic of 2008, this is one ART OF THE 30 of the most celebrated of recent German YEAR OLD’S STORY- graphic novels. TELLING. A TRUE DISCOVERY.” —MATTHIAS SCHMIDT, STERN MAGAZINE FELT MISTRESS: CREATURE COUTURE Price: £24.99 / US $38.99 | 41 Size: 285 × 215 mm FELT MISTRESS: Pages: 400 ISBN: 978-1-906653-32-3 Format: Hardcover/Colour CREATURE COUTURE Released: Out now
FELT MISTRESS Since 1994, Felt Mistress has created aka Louise Evans, lives a legion of unique, bespoke creatures that and works with her straddle the worlds of fashionistas, toy partner, illustrator and bloggers and gallery shows. Working comics artist Jonathan collaboratively with her partner, illustrator Edwards, in North Wales. and toy designer Jonathan Edwards, the Originally trained as a milliner, Louise became a inimitable Louise Evans has stitched couturier, making be- hundreds of fabulous felt characters into spoke wedding dresses life and exhibited them around the world. for private clients, before With over 1,650 photographs documenting moving onto creating 18 years of tweed, mixed-fibre and felt fantastical creatures full characters, from Demetri the pipe-smoking time for art projects, Yeti, to fan-favourite adventurer Tippy advertising, gallery Winkles, Creature Couture is a 400-page, shows and retail. Jonathan and Louise image-packed immersion in the world of have been collaborating one of the most original creative minds on the creation of a huge working today. range of felt creatures Includes Jonathan Edwards’ original for over 15 years. design ideas, and details of Felt Mistress Jonathan Edwards also collaborations with other celebrated artists, appears in Blank Slate’s featuring in-depth interviews with Jon award-winning Nelson. Burgerman, Pete Fowler, Ben Newman, “THE John Knox, Nobrow and others. COLLABORATION Edited, written and designed by Woodrow MARKS AN EXCITING, Phoenix, author of the seminal art toy book UNUSUAL MEETING Plastic Culture: How Japanese Toys OF DISCIPLINES Conquered the World. AND FIELDS” “THE DETAIL IS WONDERFUL” —LAURA SNAPES, —GAVIN LUCAS, CREATIVE REVIEW THE GUARDIAN
“THIS IS GENIUS: FULLY REALISED INDIVIDUALS CUT OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH AND BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH CONSUMMATE STYLE AND IMPISH GLEE.” —STEPHEN HOLLAND, PAGE 45 THE SUITCASE DAN BERRY Price: £9.99 / US $12.99 | 43 Size: 270 × 216 mm Pages: 48 ISBN: 978-1-906653-58-3 Format: Hardcover/Colour Released: Out now
DAN BERRY is When an elderly woman tasked an illustrator, designer, with looking after her neighbours’ pets cartoonist and lecturer returns to find the family dog dead, she based somewhere around has no idea how she’ll be able to make it the middle of the UK. He to the veterinarian’s surgery across town runs a podcast called for disposal. Agonising over what to do, Make It Then Tell the only solution she can think of is to Everybody in which he pack the dog inside her suitcase and take talks to other artists about what they do and the bus. And so the luggage’s strange and how they do it. He also unfathomable journey begins... teaches comics at the Told across three interconnected acts, The North Wales School of Suitcase takes us into the lives of dead Art & Design at Glyndwr pets, petty thieves, desperate men and University. He travels a people on the edge of sanity. Both caustic lot giving lectures and and affectionate in its treatment of its workshops on comics all over the place. The act of helpless characters, the book’s stories of drawing pleases him. domestic madness include one man’s mission to sneak his neighbour’s dead rabbit back in its hutch after a fatal accident and a deranged Top Gear fan’s attempts to make a camcorder review of his Rover 75. Open up The Suitcase to discover Dan Berry demonstrating his talent for cartooning and comedy in these three interlocking tales of woe.
“BERRY IS A MASTER STORYTELLER ... WE CAN ALL QUIETLY EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM THIS BOOK” —MARK KARDWELL, ROBOT 6 PREVIEW PAGES
BEETROOT BARNABY RICHARDS 08 PIMO & REX THOMAS WELLMANN 20 ALBY FIGGS WARREN PLEECE 14 Coney Island Baby finished preproof WP.qxp_Layout 1 26/09/2014 16:24 Page 154
hello!
...your half-sister? you're definitely Which half-sister? No, I'm doing the talking! talking about my sister-in-law, Janet!
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CONEY ISLAND BABY NINE ANTICO 12 SWEAR DOWN OLIVER EAST 30 HUGO TATE NICK ABADZIS 58 THE SILVER DARLINGS WILL MORRIS 34 HECTOR UMBRA ULI OESTERLE 64 NELSON DUNCAN FEGREDO 16&62 Pepperdelica ———— 2011 285 Tippy Winkles ———— 2009 333 42 COUTURE CREATURE MISTRESS: FELT -
newsagent). the Horse and Mr Neville (the
socialising with his crew - Pedro the squirrel, Grayson eclairs. He can often be found
his own shoelaces, the music of Polysics and chocolate likes the colour orange, tying likes the colour orange,
world trying to recruit new He member Tippy. to Team Tippy enjoys travelling the enjoys Tippy
tic safety eyes, wire and tic safety eyes, fibre filling. polyester Mixed fibre felt, card, plas-
scarf with appliqued felt pattern. tweed scarf and a fleece scarf and tweed
fringed ends but also has also has fringed ends but two other scarves, a wool a wool knitted scarf with
rick-rack braiding and ribbon details. He wears lace-up winter boots with
travels with us. orange wears Tippy Christmas cards, now
480 mm x 180 mm Made to star on our Tippy Winkles Tippy filling. card and polyester fibre card and polyester wire, embroidery thread, wire, Mixed fibre felt, foam, and a peaked cap. He car and a peaked cap. guitar. jacket with frog fastenings bass ries his left-handed military Sgt. Pepper-style military Sgt. Pepper-style trousers, cowboy boots, a trousers, cowboy Pepperdelica wears purple Pepperdelica wears USA. Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra Gallery Nucleus, Alhambra The Dreamers and Me”, The tribute show “The Lovers, show “The tribute Made for the Jim Henson 950 mm x 300 mm Pepperdelica Glaser. the 60s poster art of Milton the 60s poster art of Milton animator Heinz Edelmann and animator Heinz Edelmann and referenced Yellow referenced Yellow Submarine Beatles influence and we also Beatles influence and we to riff on Floyd’s built-in built-in to riff on Floyd’s our own version. We wanted wanted We our own version. jumped at the chance to make jumped at the chance character of ours so we of ours so we character has always been a favourite always been a favourite has we combined the two. Floyd Floyd combined the two. we but this is the first time that this is the first time that but in the past and also puppets and also puppets in the past We’ve made sculptural work made sculptural work We’ve Felt Mistress : Creature Couture 332 Felt Mistress : Creature Couture 284 PSYCHIATRIC TALES EXPANDED DARRYL CUNNINGHAM 06 HOME & AWAY MAWIL 78 HUGO TATE NICK ABADZIS Price: £14.99 / US $19.99 | 57 Size: 276 × 216 mm Pages: 192 ISBN: 978-1-906653-26-2 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
NICK ABADZIS is an Eighteen years after Nick Eisner Award-winning Abadzis’ Hugo Tate drew to a close with- creator who has been in the pages of Deadline, the comic’s writing and drawing entire six-year run is finally collected comics and graphic in a single volume. Originally appear- novels for over twenty ing in 1988 as an acerbic humour strip years. He was part of the featuring a stick-man protagonist, Hugo UK comics revolution of Tate evolved into a deep, intelligent and the 1980s and his work philosophical look at the life of a com- has been published by plex web of characters stretching from Marvel, DC, 2000AD, Macmillan and many London to New York and beyond. others worldwide. Described by The Comics Journal as His graphic novel “Britain’s Love & Rockets”, this collec- ‘Laika’ published by tion includes the critically-acclaimed First:Second was a final story arcO, America!, in which multiple award-winner. Hugo finds himself on a drug-fuelled He currently lives and road trip across the underbelly of works in Brooklyn, New America that rivals the work of Hunter York with his wife and S. Thompson. Featuring a gallery of daughter. rare extras, all-new commentary from Abadzis and Deadline editor Frank Wynne and a special introduction by Garth Ennis (Preacher), now seems just the right time to revisit a genuine modern comics classic.
ALSO AVAILABLE AS A LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVER £19.99 ISBN 978-1-906653-32-3
“ABADZIS’S MASTERY OF THE LANGUAGE OF COMICS IS SO COMPLETE THAT YOU WONDER WHETHER HE DREAMS IN SEQUENTIAL PANELS” —THE SUNDAY TIMES PEEPHOLES LAURIE J. PROUD Price: £16.99 / US $22.99 | 59 Size: 297 × 220 mm Pages: 122 ISBN: 978-1-906653-24-8 Format: Hardcover/Colour
LAURIE J. PROUD was born In Peepholes, Laurie J. Proud peers in Newcastle and moved to into worlds that lie behind closed doors London at the age of 19 to — where our everyday stuck-on smiles work as a storyboard artist. are shaken off to reveal the darkness He later studied at the and inner yearnings they obscure. Ten Royal College of Art and beautifully-crafted stories of the bizarre graduated in 1999 with an include cities where businessmen walk MA in animation. up the side of buildings, a sex obsessed He has since worked as an werewolf haunts hotels searching for animator and director. women in need and love-struck hitmen Comics and painting have are hired to kill their favourite movie remained a refuge from the starlets. Proud’s work captures a sense commercial worlds of of a world displaced in space and time, advertising and illustration. He currently lives in Hove, where his slapstick hero ‘Hotel Charlie’ East Sussex. This is his first takes us back into the world of Harold published collection. Lloyd. Veering between dreams and nightmares, Proud’s oblique visions of urban, emotional and sexual chaos range from the darkly comical to bit- ingly poignant. A new UK comics talent emerges with a fully formed creative voice, that will make comfortable read- ing for fans of Al Columbia and Ho Che Anderson and uncomfortable fare for everyone else. Do you dare peek through to the other side?
ALSO AVAILABLE AS A LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVER £19.99 ISBN 978-1-906653-32-3
“TALES OF HIGH GRAPHIC SOPHISTICATION” —PAUL GRAVETT, AUTHOR OF 1001 COMICS TO READ BEFORE YOU DIE NELSON EDITED BY ROB DAVIS AND WOODROW PHOENIX
BOOK OF THE YEAR 2012
“THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW COMICS WHERE, BY THE END, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN THERE WITH THE CHARACTERS THROUGHOUT THEIR WHOLE LIVES, AND IT IS ASTONISHING JUST HOW COHESIVE THE ENTIRE VOLUME FEELS. PART OF THAT MAY COME DOWN TO A SHARED SENSIBILITY AND EXPERIENCE OF THE WORLD BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CREATORS, BUT ALSO DUE TO THEIR HIGH LEVELS OF TALENT.” —GAVIN LEES, GRAPHIC EYE ALSO AVAILABLE AS Price: £18.99 / US $22.99 | 61 A LIMITED EDITION Size: 236 × 178mm HARDCOVER Pages: 252 ISBN: 978-1-906653-23-1 £24.99 Format: Softcover/Colour
FEATURING: Based on an original idea by Rob PAUL GRIST, ROB DAVIS, Davis and co-edited by Davis and WOODROW PHOENIX, ELLEN Woodrow Phoenix, Nelson celebrates the LINDNER, JAMIE SMART, GARY incredible diversity of talent in British NORTHFIELD, SARAH MCINTYRE, comics today. Creators known for their SUZY VARTY, SEAN LONGCROFT, editorial and national newspaper strips WARWICK JOHNSON–CADWELL, unite with those from humour comics LUKE PEARSON, PAUL HARRISON– DAVIES, PAUL PEART–SMITH, GLYN such as the Beano, The Dandy, and MAD DILLON, I.N.J.CULBARD, JOHN Magazine joining a wealth of talent from ALLISON, PHILIP BOND, D’ISRAELI, children’s books, indie publishing and SIMONE LIA, KATIE GREEN, webcomics, with the science fiction and DARRYL CUNNINGHAM, superhero worlds of 2000AD, Marvel, JONATHAN EDWARDS, ADE DC, and Dark Horse. SALMON, KATE CHARLESWORTH, Part exquisite corpse and part relay WARREN PLEECE, KRISTYNA race, Nelson spans decades of British BACZYNSKI, HARVEYJAMES, RIAN HUGHES, SEAN PHILLIPS & PETE history and a myriad of stylistic DOREE, KATE BROWN, SIMON approaches in telling the story of one BOOK GANE, JON MCNAUGHT, ADAM woman’s life by 54 creators, in 54 OF THE CADWELL, FAZ CHOUDHURY, episodes, detailing 54 days. The result YEAR JAKE, DAN MCDAID, ROGER is a surprising and compellingly 2012 LANGRIDGE, WILL MORRIS, DAVE readable book that is sad, funny, SHELTON, CAROL SWAIN, HUNT moving, poignant, ridiculous, heartfelt, EMERSON, DUNCAN FEGREDO, and like nothing you have seen before. PHILIPPA RICE, JEREMY DAY, JOSCELINE FENTON, GAREN EWING, TOM HUMBERSTONE, DAN OBSERVER GRAPHIC NOVEL OF BERRY, ALICE DUKE, POSY THE MONTH, NOVEMBER 2011 SIMMONDS, LAURA HOWELL, ANDI WATSON, AND DAVE TAYLOR THE TIMES: BEST GRAPHIC NOVELS OF 2011 “THE BOOK I’M GOING TO GIVE, SPECIFICALLY TO PEOPLE NOSTALGIC FOR THEIR CHILDHOOD IN THE LATE 1960s AND 70s (OF WHOM I KNOW MANY). I AM FASCINATED BY THE DIFFERENT STYLES OF EACH PARTICIPATING ARTIST IN THIS COLLABORATION, AND BY THE WAY THE CENTRAL CHARACTER DEVELOPS UNDER ONE’S EYES AS EACH YEAR IN HER LIFE UNFOLDS.” —BARONESS MARY WARNOCK, PHILOSOPHER HECTOR UMBRA ULI OESTERLE Price: £18.99 / US $26.99 | 63 Size: 246 × 176 mm Pages: 212 ISBN: 978-1-906653-16-3 Format: Hardcover/Colour
ULI OESTERLE Master DJ Osaka Best has is a comic artist and disappeared, mysteriously vanishing illustrator based in in a flash of blinding light during the Munich. His distinctive climax of his set at Munich’s Robot comics work has been Mitchum nightclub. Enter, Hector published by Carlsen Umbra—Osaka’s best friend and in Germany, Bries in artist-turned-detective—to solve the Belgium and Dark mystery. 61 hours, seven packs of House in the USA and cigarettes and countless phone calls made him well-known later, it transpires that all is not as in European comics. it seems, and our hero finds himself Much of the embroiled in a plot involving religious inspiration for Uli’s freaks, villainous Elvis impersonators, work comes from Munich’s nightlife, and aliens and even the dead themselves. in 1994 he co-founded Beautifully illustrated and coloured, the arts collective Die Hector Umbra takes you inside the Artillerie within the world of Munich’s Hip-Hop club scene city. It is now one of in a comic that defines cool. the most famous Hector Umbra was nominated for the illustration studios in 2000 Max and Moritz prize and was a Germany. Hector nominee for the German ICOM award. Umbra is his first It was also a featured title at the graphic novel to be world’s most renowned comics festival, translated into English. in Angouléme.
“ULI OESTERLE IS A GENIUS AND A FOUNTAIN OF INSPIRATION” —MIKE MIGNOLA, AUTHOR OF HELLBOY SLEEPYHEADS RANDALL C. Price: £17.99 / US $22.99 | 65 Size: 260 ×206 mm Pages: 112 ISBN: 978-1-906653-04-0 Format: Softcover with flaps/Colour
RANDALL CAESAR The borders between dreams and strives to live the way reality blur as the book’s main couple people say he draws wander through a mind-bending tale of cartoons: creative, shipwrecked philosophers, dinosaurs, flamboyant, playful, wolves, whales, and submarines – often poetic, witty, deceptively as absurd as it is poignant. The parts simple, in search of of the story layer together to form a magic and full of greater whole where nothing may be as compassion. it seems and everything may be as you His illustrations have thought. Sleepyheads’ beautifully illus- appeared in various trated strands intertwine to create a publications including the graphic novel experience like no other, Flemish weekly Humo and that will have you thinking about your the Flemish newspaper life and the way you live it. De Standaard. He does From the wildest frontiers to the regular design work for Dutch TV. confines of our own heads,Sleepyheads Unexpectedly he’s also will leave you sure that you can go won several prestigious home again. prizes for his work as coach and director of leading Flemish comedians. ALSO AVAILABLE AS A LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVER £17.99 ISBN 978-1-906653-10-1
“RANDALL C.’s STORIES ARE A CHINESE PUZZLE BOX OF WHICH EVEN NEIL GAIMAN WOULD LOSE TRACK OF THE PIECES.” —THE COMICS JOURNAL THE ACCIDENTAL SALAD JOE DECIE Price: £5.99 / US $7.99 | 67 Size: 285 × 211mm Pages: 40 ISBN: 978-1-906653-4-91 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
JOE DECIE is an Life seen through a lens of thought illustrator and comic provoking absurdism. Joe Decie gives artist, he draws us his beautifully ink-washed stories of pictures in boxes, the apparently everyday, with a twist they are true and in the tail. Ever wonder what the por- made up. He tent of that eyeless Bart Simpson doll currently lives on at the boot sale was? Or how demons the south coast of can possess your pictures during scan- England with his wife ning? Joe reveals all. and their son. His Joe Decie’s work has long been regu- favourite chilli pepper larly featured on Top Shelf 2.0 and he is the Scotch Bonnet has long been a darling of the UK small and his favourite press. This special collection of his whiskey is Lagavulin. work presents the perfect opportunity to dive in and see what all the noise is about.
“IT ALL READS LIKE A MORE CREATIVE WAY TO APPROACH DOING COMICS ABOUT YOURSELF, IT’S NOT JUST HIM DOCUMENTING HIS LIFE BUT ALSO HIS IDEAS IN A REALLY COOL CASUAL WAY.” —BRANDON GRAHAM, AUTHOR OF KING CITY
“A TRIUMPH OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL OBSERVATION AND ABSURDITY, MUCH LOVED BY JEFFREY BROWN, WITH A WARMTH, WIT AND GENTLE SELF-MOCKERY THAT PUTS ME IN MIND OF EDDIE CAMPBELL’S ALEC” —STEPHEN HOLLAND, PAGE 45 COMICS STORE A LONG DAY OF MR. JAMES-TEACHER HARVEYJAMES Price: £5.99 / US $7.99 | 69 Size: 285 × 211 mm Pages: 28 ISBN: 978-1-906653-53-8 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
JAMES HARVEY, Once upon a time in the East, known professionally as James Harvey – better known profes- HARVEYJAMES, is one sionally as illustrator HARVEYJAMES of the UK’s freshest new – found himself taking a position as an cartooning talents. His English Teacher in South Korea. A Long drawings have appeared Day of Mr. James-Teacher is the story on BBC TV, in the pages of one particularly gloomy day – a brief of Vice magazine, and in snapshot of his time in the country. Blank Slate’s award- Can James complete enough thankless winning Nelson. He loves tasks for his nightmarish boss? Will the rap music, the lyrics of children enjoy his lesson plans, or figure Jacques Brel and out he’s just a “lumbering white gonk”? galbi restaurants. He has And most of all, will it ever stop raining? recently masterminded a tribute to Katsuhiro Will it EVER stop raining?? Otomo’s Akira via The The poster-child for the new wave of Simpsons, called manga-inspired artists adapting those Bartkira. He is working styles to their own ends, Harvey exhibits on Zygote, a full-length astounding craft in this day-long auto- graphic novel for biographical comic. Attracting praise Blank Slate. in its original self-published run for its His official website is breath-taking fluid art style and emo- www.harveyjamestm.com tional range, this deluxe Chalk Marks edition adds all-new work as well as a couple of extra surprises for readers.
“THIS SPINDLY ENGLISH ANIME NERD HAS SPRING- BOARDED OFF HIS LOVE OF JAPANESE CARTOONS INTO SOMETHING NEW AND BEAUTIFUL. HIS LINEWORK AND SENSE OF VOLUME COMES PURELY FROM JAPANESE ANIMATION, BUT HE’S DECONSTRUCTED THE STYLE AND REBUILT IT TO EXPRESS BIG IDEAS AND DEEP FEELINGS.” —NICK GAZIN, VICE MAGAZINE THE SURVIVALIST BOX BROWN Price: £5.99 / US $7.99 | 71 Size: 285 × 211 mm Pages: 48 ISBN: 978-1-906653-55-2 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
BOX BROWN is a Noah appears to lead a normal cartoonist, illustrator life. He works in a boring cubicle, in and comic publisher a boring office, surrounded by people from Philadelphia, he is that just ‘don’t get him’. Little do his a winner of three Ignatz co-workers know that Noah has been awards in 2011 alone. His steadily preparing for Armageddon, comics have been fea- stocking up the fully-operational tured in Mad Magazine bunker beneath his home. A regular and his illustrations have listener to extreme conspiracy theorist been on Wired.com. He’s Dick March’s podcasts, Noah is certain also a comics publisher that a meteorite deemed “safe” by the himself and his Retrofit Government will collide with Earth, is attempting to bring creating an extinction-level event. the traditional comic format comics back to Crazy, right? Wrong! shops worldwide. He’s How does the last man on Earth fill his interested in subcultures days? And when another survivor sets whose views are up camp in the wasteland around his diametrically bunker, will Noah be able to overcome opposed to his own. his isolationist attitude and finally Visit Box’s website: connect, genuinely, to another human www.boxbrown.com being? More importantly, will there be enough weed for the both of them?
“BOX BROWN IS NO STRANGER TO EXPLORING DIVERSE, AND SOMETIMES BIZARRE EXTREME SUB-CULTURES. HIS NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL FOLLOWS AN ANGST-RIDDEN OUTSIDER AS HE SURVIVES SURVIVING. FANS OF ‘EVERYTHING DIES’ WILL LOVE THE LONGER, MORE INVOLVED STORY AND BEAUTIFULLY DETAILED ARTWORK.” —SQUIDFACEANDTHEMEDDLER.COM DINOPOPOLOUS NICK EDWARDS Price: £5.99 / US $7.99 | 73 Size: 285 × 211 mm Pages: 28 ISBN: 978-1-906653-52-1 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
NICK EDWARDS Nigel is your average 13-year-old never stops drawing. boy from Chipton. He loves reading Since winning the UK fantasy and sci-fi comics, playing video Professional Cartoonists’ games, listening to heavy metal and Organisation’s Young obsessIng over his classmate Mar- Cartoonist of the Year tha. Oh yeah, and he spends his free award in 2009, the time solving mysteries with his best 23-year old creator has friend Brian... a talking dinosaur with amassed a selction of twin-mounted laser cannons on his impressive credits, back. including work for Called into action by moustachioed Disney TV, and madman Lancaster Perrifold, the appearing in Image Jurassic duo are launched into the Comics’ Popgun anthology. Currently hunt for The Miracle Bird of Ndundoo, based in Brighton, he a mythical jewel-excreting creature divides his time between that lives deep below the planet’s crust. studying Illustration at Racing against the clock, Nigel and university, professional Brian must beat their nefarious ad- illustration work, and versaries, Julian and his Evil League leaving a trail of of Lizards, to the mysterious ancient dinosaur, robot, cat prize. and owl-men doodles Steven Spielberg’s got nothing on this in his wake. astonishing solo debut: one part classic comic adventure, one part video-game homage, scaly all over. RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGES/ CHILD READERS.
“THIS BOOK IS CRAZY! READING IT IS KINDA LIKE PLAYING A VIDEO GAME THAT’S TOTALLY GLITCHING OUT. PLUS, THERE’S A COOL ADVENTURE AND EXCELLENT DRAWING.” —JAMES KOCHALKA, CREATOR OF AMERICAN ELF, SUPERF*CKERS THE GIRL AND THE GORILLA MADÉLEINE FLORES Price: £7.99 / US $13.99 | 75 Size: 225 × 170 mm Pages: 100 ISBN: 978-1-906653-09-5 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
MADÉLEINE FLORES It’s a story for everyone who loves has been drawing since books, adventure, and saving the day! she could hold pencils Aurelie is having a rough day. But her in her hands. She was foul mood is quickly forgotten when she raised in Germany but crosses paths with a Gorilla. Her day now lives in the US. only gets more interesting from there! Moving around gave A chat with historical characters, a her exposure to all hunter who takes her under his wing sorts of comics and she and a forest of unusual residents. What developed an early love else will she encounter? And who will for the classic bandes save the day? déssinées from France In this first graphic novel, Madéleine and Belgium. She loves Flores delves into how much our world many Euro comics to this day. The Girl and would suffer without the wonders of the Gorilla is her first hope and creativity. The Girl and the book – she has also had Gorilla is an all-ages book perfectly work in the anthology suitable for children of reading age 8 title Side B. and up.
RECOMMENDED FOR ALL AGES/ CHILD READERS
“A SWEET AND DELIGHTFUL LITTLE TALE…” —BART CROONENBORGHS, THE COMICS JOURNAL HOME & AWAY MAWIL Price: £11.99 / US $15.99 | 77 Size: 225 × 170 mm Pages: 96 HOME & AWAY ISBN: 978-1-906653-22-4 MAWIL Format: Softcover with flaps/Colour
MAWIL is one of A collection of stories including Maw- Germany’s best loved il’s work in colour for the first time. comics artists. He has The longest strip, ‘Welcome Home’, sees won the ICOM award Mawil and new-found friends head for best independent out on a summer holiday inspired by comic on four different the thought of Hippy chicks and their occasions. Part of the daily naked Yoga routines. In others influential Berlin he fights video-game addiction and collective Monogatari, strives to improve his first car, a much he has carved out a reputation as one of loved but clunky Skoda. Watch as he Europe’s most natural discovers what the life of a graffiti and lively cartoonists artist is like when you fail to keep one and can be regularly step ahead of the law, and more fun found appearing and and funny stories. Many of them give a teaching at comics glimpse of growing up in East Germany festivals around the before the wall came down. continent. His books have been translated into English, French, Spanish, Polish and Czech. He lives in “I LOVE MAWIL’S WARM, Berlin. His new book LIVELY CARTOONING. about growing up in UTTERLY REAL, FUNNY East Berlin is due in AND ADORABLE. I WANT 2013. TO STEAL HIS SECRETS!” —SCOTT MCLOUD, AUTHOR, UNDERSTANDING COMICS AND LEADING COMICS THEORIST. THE BAND MAWIL Price: £8.99 / US $12.99 | 79 Size: 225 × 170 mm Pages: 96 ISBN: 978-1-906653-15-6 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
Crash, pling, TWANG – the un- ruly sounds of a new band are slowly melded into a tight unit that can slay any audience. Well, at least in the school gym or church meeting hall. Watch as Mawil relives his experienc- es in search of Rock stardom – always just a fingernail out of reach. Witness as girls crowd round, the perfect sound is striven for and ‘white label’ guitars become the instruments to die for. A delightful trip through schoolday dreams, enduring friendships and the search for that golden moment of inspiration.
“… YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING BUT ENJOY THE BAND. MAWIL KNOWS HOW TO GET ACROSS HIS STORY WITH CLEVER DRAWINGS THAT TRANSPORT THE READERS INTO THE BAND MEMBERS’ SHOES.” —SPLASH COMICS, GERMANY WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS MAWIL
SPARKY O’HARE MAWIL Price: £7.99 / US $12.99 | 81 Size: 225 × 170 mm Pages: 66 ISBN: 978-1-906653-01-9 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
You sat next to them in Sunday “IF ONLY School, met them at Summer camp, spent your first year away from home MAWIL WAS AS with them as your roomie. You’re GOOD WITH THE infatuated, excited, obsessional: you’re GIRLS AS HE IS A in love! You think you’re just getting CARTOONIST. BUT somewhere and then come those THEN WE WOULDN’T five dreaded words: “We Can Still be HAVE THESE FUN Friends”. STORIES ABOUT HOW HE ISN’T ANY GOOD WITH THE GIRLS. WHICH IS GOOD FOR US READERS, I GUESS, AND IF Price: £4.99 / US $8.99 MAWIL’S ADOLESCENT Size: 138 × 105 mm LOVE HAS TO SUFFER Pages: 94 FOR THE GREATER ISBN: 978-1-906653-03-3 Format: Softcover/B&W GOOD, I’M OKAY WITH THAT. THANK YOU, MAWIL.” —JEFFREY Mawil presents a delightful series BROWN, of cartoons featuring his super-cute AUTHOR OF rabbit/ electrician, Sparky O’Hare. Tools in hand, he comes to fix things, CLUMSY and boy, does he ever! Chaos, fun and AND FUNNY laughter ensue in a collection of stories MISSHAPEN that see Sparky jinx everything from BODY. office equipment to hospital equipment and more. MY SKATEBOARD LIFE ED SYDER Price: £8.99 / US $13.99 | 83 Size: 227 × 162mm Pages: 96 ISBN: 978-1-906653-11-8 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
ED SYDER grew up in Growing up in the Cornwall Cornwall where he went skate scene of the 1980s and 1990s, through school and Ed Syder details the thrills, spills, developed his obsessional romance, excitement, and obsession of love of skateboarding. a sport that, for those involved, defined He’s a graduate of the a generation worldwide. For anyone Liverpool Art School with a degree in Fine Art. After who ever puzzled over the axle width of that he moved to their trucks or ogled board designs in a Manchester in ’98 to “do skate shop, Ed recalls the teen anxiety Art”, becoming a part of not having the coolest equipment as a of the local music scene beginner, the epoch-changing shift from where his gig posters vert skating to street skating, and how became rightly famous. things just got weird when there were He now lives in London, girls at the skate park. combining his cartoon Also features mini-interviews with and illustration work with teaching. classic skateboarders Steve Steadham (of Bones Brigade fame) and Jeff Hedges. Illustrated in the distinctive high- impact black and white style that made him a star in the Manchester music poster scene, there’s no better way to relive falling in love with skateboarding all over again.
“A DOUBLE DOSE OF GOOD TIMES THAT HAD ME LOST IN NOSTALGIA: FUNNY HAIR, ROCK’N’ROLL, BABES AND SHREDDING!” —COREY DUFFEL, PRO SKATER SPLEENAL NIGEL AUCHTERLOUNIE Price: £10.99 / US $15.99 | 85 Size: 215 × 154 mm Pages: 156 ISBN: 978-1-906653-06-4 Format: Softcover with flaps/Colour
NIGEL You invent a time machine. Riches, AUCHTERLOUNIE is a wealth and power will surely follow. cartoonist, model maker, Not in Spleenal’s world. Watch him toymaker and writer – so travel back and forth in time using this how come he ain’t famous gift to sleep with younger versions of yet? Despite a passing his wife, create wife sex-bots and the physical resemblance to ‘Brazilian’ wax. his Spleenal character Back in the present, the internet he’d like to point out that presents a frustrated Spleenal with in real life he’s nothing an opportunity he can’t miss out on – like him (right, we believe guiltless sex. Or so he thinks until the you). Nigel’s ideas panic starts, the wife gets involved and and inspiration come from the best British cartoon it doesn’t quite turn out as expected. traditions – in a world Funny, funny, funny and a bit dirty to parallel to Spleenal’s Nigel boot. Spleenal, by Nigel Auchterlounie, also does regular work is for the Non-PC lurking in all of us. for The Dandy, where he has taken the glorious traditions of the likes of RECOMMENDED FOR Baxendale and Reid and moved them to a more MATURE READERS. unrestrained level. “NIGEL’S STUFF IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED, BUT IT’S VERY GOOD AND IT’S VERY FUNNY. ARTISTICALLY, SPLEENAL IS DOING SOME LOVELY THINGS, THOSE NICE LINES AND GOOD LAYOUTS KEEP GRABBING YOUR ATTENTION.” —RICHARD BRUTON, FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL LUCHADORAS PEGGY ADAM Price: £12.99 / US $17.99 | 87 Size: 236 × 178mm Pages: 94 ISBN: 978-1-906653-12-5 Format: Softcover with flaps/B&W
PEGGY ADAM Since 1993, a grievous shadow has is a writer and illustrator been cast over the Mexican border-city who has been working of Juárez. A tragic symbol of misogynist in French comics since violence, Cuidad Juárez has been the 2000. She’s had many scene of hundreds of feminicidios – the books published, to abduction and brutal murders of female widespread acclaim, by victims aged between 12 and 22. a number of french Referred to as ‘Las Muertas de Juárez’, language publishers many of these victims are found before most recently tortured, sexually abused, or disfigured finding a home at Swiss – senseless atrocities that have caught publisher Atrabile. international attention. With many of Her work has been these cases still unresolved, some sourc- translated into a number of languages. es suggest the number of victims may Luchadoras is her first even reach into the thousands. full-length work It is in this harrowing real setting that available in English. we are introduced to Alma, a woman courageously attempting to escape her abusive gang-member fiancé. Follow- ing a violent altercation, she flees in the night, cementing her vow to never return by beginning a new relationship with a considerate stranger. In this story of survival by any means necessary, Peggy Adam explores the complex issues surrounding the mur- ders through the humanity of her characters. Truly a graphic novel of substance, Luchadoras asks the reader to consider where exactly the extents of morality lie in a corrupt society.
“BRILLIANT, BRUTAL, AND INFUSED WITH THE RAW GRACE OF A WOUNDED PANTHER, LUCHADORAS IS SO GOOD, IT HURTS.” —JASON WILKINS, BROKEN FRONTIER TRAINS ARE ... MINTOLIVER EAST Price: £12.99 / US $24.99 | 89 Size: 230 × 156mm Pages: 122 TRAINS ARE ... ISBN: 978-1-906653-00-2 MINTOLIVER EAST Format: Hardcover/Colour OLIVER EAST is an Ignatz Oliver East takes the reader on award-nominated comic walks along the train tracks between creator with an unique Manchester and Blackpool, pointing out style helping redefine UK the little things that locals often simply comics. Familiar to music lovers as the cover artist tune out as they zoom by. on the Mercury award Rendered in his low-fi, evocative wa- winning Elbow album The tercolour style, Trains Are... Mint rep- Seldom Seen Kid (as well resents the artist’s first large collection as providing art for the of work. video for ‘Open Arms’ from ‘Build A Rocket Boys!’), Oliver divides his time between professional illustration and his comics work. He lives in “THE PLEASURE HERE IS Manchester with his wife NOT TO BE FOUND IN THE and son. BIGGER PICTURE, BUT IN THE TINY MOMENTS AND THE PRIVILEGED GLIMPSES THEY MAY CONTAIN.” —TEDDY JAMIESON, THE GLASGOW HERALD
“HE PICKS HIS READERS OUT OF THEIR EASY CHAIRS AND MAKES THEM FOLLOW HIM ON HIS MODEST TRAVELS, EXPERIENCING THE WORLD AS HE DOES, SEEING WHAT HE SEES, SHARING WITH THEM IN THAT UNADORNED, CURIOUS VOICE. AS LONG AS HE CONTINUES TO ASK ME ALONG, I’M NOT SURE I CARE IF I EVER FIGURE IT ALL OUT.” —TOM SPURGEON, THE COMICS REPORTER PROPER GO WELL HIGH OLIVER EAST
BERLIN AND THAT OLIVER EAST Price: £14.99 / US $19.99 | 91 Size: 230 × 153mm Pages: 172 ISBN: 978-1-906653-02-6 Format: Hardcover/Colour
“OLIVER Following on from his breakout EAST WALKS. title Trains Are...Mint, Proper Go Well High WHEN HE’S sees Oliver venture out from Manchester DONE, HE towards Liverpool. While maintaining his DRAWS...THE talent for capturing small details, East uses RESULTS ARE the landscape to explore both the beauty OBLIQUE AND and socio-political issues of the North West INTOXICATING.” of England. —BILL RANDALL, THE COMICS JOURNAL
Price: £14.99 / US $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-906653-07-1 Size: 230×153mm FEATURING Pages: 168 FIFTY-TWO Format: Hardcover/Colour COLLABORATORS INCLUDING GUY GARVEY The third book in the Trains Are... OF ELBOW, Mint series, Berlin and That sees the BLANK SLATE’S artist walking from Berlin’s Alexander- platz to Frankfurt (Oder) on the Polish JIM MEDWAY border, keeping as close to the train AND STUART line as he can without trespassing. KOLOKOVIC. Drawn from memory, East then invited artist and non-artist friends to alter each page as they saw fit. The result is a one-of-a-kind book that is as much tribute to those 80 kilometres as the spirit of collaboration. SUBMISSIONS BLANK SLATE BOOKS is always looking for new authors. We are primarily looking for cartoonists who both write and draw – who, in fact, produce the whole comics work. We generally aren’t much interested in art samples or scripts and outlines. We aren’t really in the habit of putting writers with artists. However if you are a writer only and have an outstanding script we may be interested. Just don’t expect a quick an- swer if we aren’t. We are interested in both black & white and colour work. If you are a new cartoonist, making your work in black & white – thus cheaper to print – will improve your chances of getting a bite. If we accept your work for a book project we do pay an advance and royalties, and these will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to submit work for consideration please read and follow these guidelines:
1. Submit no more than 12 pages if you are sending work as an attachment. We will pretty much know within that length if it’s for us or not. 2. Please don’t bombard us with multiple scenarios, just send us your best work. If we establish a relationship, we will want to look at your other ideas then. 3. Your work can have appeared before as small press, web- comic or self published, and we are interested in collecting strip work into a single volume. Please make sure that it’s clear what you are submitting, and either point us to web addresses to view the work or send us samples. 4. We do try to answer every email. If somehow we fail to do so – we apologise in advance. It almost certainly means that we don’t think we’d be interested in your work, however feel free to follow up with us by email. 5. Please try not to send work to us to be critiqued rather than as a submission. We may from time to time do this where we see promise, but when we don’t respond don’t feel slighted. 6. Try and look at the kind of books that we have published previously as a rough indicator of what we might publish in the future. We are open to most things but are VERY unlikely to publish either superheroes or out-and-out avant garde art comics. 7. You should be in a position to deliver your completed work within six months of signing a deal. 8. Email all submissions to Kenny Penman:
ALWAYS include the word ‘Submission’ in your title header to diminish the chance of your email being bounced as spam. PUBLISHER: KENNY PENMAN GROUP EDITOR: IZ RIPS ART DIRECTOR: WOODROW PHOENIX
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